International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
Established | 1927 |
---|---|
Type | International nongovernmental organization |
Location |
|
President | Barbara Lison |
Secretary General | Halo Locher (interim)[1] |
Website | www |
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of people who rely on libraries and information professionals. An independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization, IFLA was founded in Scotland in 1927 and maintains headquarters at the National Library of the Netherlands in The Hague. IFLA sponsors the annual IFLA World Library and Information Congress, promoting universal and equitable access to information, ideas, and works of imagination for social, educational, cultural, democratic, and economic empowerment. IFLA also produces several publications, including IFLA Journal.[2]
IFLA closely partners with UNESCO, resulting in several jointly produced manifestos.[3] IFLA is also a founding member of Blue Shield,[4] which works to protect the world's cultural heritage when threatened by wars and natural disaster.
History
IFLA was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 30 September 1927, when library associations from 14 European countries and the United States signed a resolution at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Library Association of the United Kingdom. Isak Collijn, head of the National Library of Sweden, was elected the first president. The first constitution was approved in Rome in 1929 during the World Congress of Librarianship and Bibliography.[5]
During the 1930s the first library associations from outside Europe and the US joined, these being China, India, Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. By 1958 membership had grown to 64 associations from 42 countries. A permanent secretariat was established in 1962. By 1970 there were 250 members from 52 countries. The secretariat was moved to The Hague in 1971. By 1974 IFLA membership had become virtually global with 600 members in 100 countries.[5]
Membership criteria were expanded beyond library associations in 1976 to include institutions, i.e. libraries, library schools and bibliographic institutes. At this time, the word Institutions was added to the organisation's name. Since then further new categories of membership have been created, including personal affiliates.[5]
IFLA has now grown to over 1,700 members in approximately 155 countries. It is headquartered in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the National Library of the Netherlands, in The Hague.
In 2021 for the first time, IFLA held World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) online because of the continuing global pandemic. On 17–19 August, the virtual conference drew thousands of attendees from around the world to more than 150 sessions with topics that ranged from digital controlled lending to new skill sets for school librarians to climate impact on libraries.[6]
Mission
"A strong and united library field powering literate, informed and participative societies."[7]
IFLA's objectives are:
- To represent librarianship in matters of international interest
- To promote the continuing education of library personnel
- To develop, maintain and promote guidelines for library services
Core values
The objectives are informed by the following core values:
- The endorsement of the principles of freedom of expression embodied in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- The belief that people, communities and organizations need universal and equitable access to information, ideas and works of imagination for their social, educational, cultural, democratic and economic well-being
- The conviction that delivery of high quality library and information services helps guarantee that access
- The commitment to enable all Members of the Federation to engage in, and benefit from, its activities without regard to citizenship, disability, ethnic origin, gender, geographical location, language, political philosophy, race or religion.
Divisions
IFLA publication (2017)
According to IFLA, their "most important work ... happens in the various groups that make up the organisation".[8]
More than 60 sections, strategic programmes, and special interest groups are organized in five divisions to carry out a variety of IFLA's activities and programs.[9]
These divisions are:
- Library Types (Division I) - includes sections focused on academic, research, public, special, and school libraries; a strategic programme for Committee on Standards; and special interest groups, including Evidence for Global and Disaster Health (E4GDH) group.[10][11]
- Library Collections (Division II) - includes sections on acquisitions and collection development, rare books and special collections, and news media; strategic programmes on Preservation and Conservation (PAC) and the Committee on Standards; and special interest groups on LGBTQ users and on library publishing.[12]
- Library Services (Division III) - includes sections on Bibliography, Cataloguing, and Indigenous Matters; strategic programmes on UNIMARC and the Committee on Standards; and special interest groups on big data and Digital Humanities.[13]
- Support of the Profession (Division IV) - includes sections on library buildings and equipment, theory and research, and statistics and evaluation; strategic programmes for the Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE), Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM), and the Committee on Standards; and special interest groups including Women, Information and Libraries Special Interest Group and LIS Education in Developing Countries.[14]
- Regions (Division V) - includes sections on Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean; strategic programmes for the Library Development Programme (LDP) and the Committee on Standards; and special interest group for Access to Information Network – Africa (ATINA).[15]
Strategic programmes
IFLA operates six strategic programmes:
- Committee on Standards
- Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM) Advisory Committee
- Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Advisory Committee
- Library Development Programme (LDP)
- Strategic Programme on Preservation and Conservation (PAC)
- UNIMARC Strategic Programme.[16]
Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM)
Copyright and intellectual property issues and laws have long been recognized important to the library profession.[17] A volunteer-driven committee, the CLM was created to advise and represent IFLA on matters of international copyright law.
The CLM produces legal briefs and is the representative for IFLA at meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).[18] The CLM's activities for the WIPO involve:
- Copyright limitations and exceptions for libraries and archives
- Copyright limitations and exceptions for visually impaired persons
- Relations with WIPO Secretariat
- Opposition to the Broadcast Treaty at WIPO
- Development Agenda at WIPO
- Preservation of Traditional Knowledge at WIPO[19]
Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE)
One of the core activities of IFLA is the Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression,[20] which monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library community worldwide, supports IFLA policy development and co-operation with other international human rights organisations, and responds to violations of free access to information and freedom of expression.[21] FAIFE provides guidance and leadership on issues of intellectual freedom around the world through the publication of annual reports, guidelines, manifestos, special reports, and statements.[22]
The mission of FAIFE is to:
- Raise awareness of the essential correlation between the library concept and the values of freedom of expression.
- Collect and disseminate documentation and aim to stimulate a dialog both within and outside the library world.
- Act as a focal point on the issue of freedom of expression, libraries and librarianship.[23]
IFLA/FAIFE is a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors freedom of expression worldwide.[24] It is also a member of the Tunisia Monitoring Group, a coalition of 16 free expression organisations that lobbies the Tunisian government to improve its human rights record.
Library Development Program (LDP)
Launched in 1984 and initially known as Advancement of Librarianship in the Third World, the programme has supported capacity building through a series of small grants and projects in developing and transition countries and advocacy for access to information.[25] This program focuses predominantly on three main programs under its umbrella:
- Building Strong Library Associations Programme[26]
- International Advocacy Programme (IAP),[27] focusing on advocacy for the role of access to information and libraries in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development[28]
- International Leader's Programme.[29]
Strategic Programme on Preservation and Conservation (PAC)
Established in 1984, the Strategic Programme on Preservation and Conservation (PAC) focuses on efforts to preserve library and archive materials, in any form, around the world.[30] Unlike other IFLA Strategic Programmes, PAC features a decentralised approach, with global strategies implemented by a Focal Point and activities managed by Regional Centres.
PAC aims to ensure that both published and unpublished library and archive materials are preserved in an accessible form. In doing so, the programme follows three main guiding principles:
- preservation is essential to the survival and development of culture and scholarship;
- international cooperation is a key principle;
- each country must accept responsibility for the preservation of its own publications.[31]
IFLA Trend Report
The first commissioned IFLA Trend Report, entitled "Caught in the waves or caught in the tide? Insights from the IFLA Trend Report",[32] was published in January 2013 and launched at the World Library and Information Congress in Singapore on 19 August 2013.[32] The IFLA Trend Report resulted in the identification of emerging high-level societal trends which may affect the global information environment. The Trend Report consists of a number of documents—including an overview, annotated bibliography and research papers—and is also intended as a web platform for ongoing consultation.[32]: 3 In the first stage of the review from November 2012 through 2013, "social scientists, economists, business leaders, education specialists, legal experts and technologists"—mainly from outside the library field—were consulted.[32]: 3 One of the key focal points of the report was the inundation of the archives with a tidal wave of information. By 2010 this represented more than 1 zettabytes of data or 1.8 trillion gigabytes.[32]: 3 [33]
The report listed five key trends predicted to impact how societies and individuals "access, use, and benefit from information in an increasingly hyper-connected world":[34]
- new technologies that "will both expand and limit who has access to information"
- online education that "will democratise and disrupt global learning"
- redefinition of the boundaries of privacy and data protection
- hyper-connected societies that "will listen to and empower new voices and groups:
- transformation of the global information economy through new technologies[32]: 4
The IFLA Trend Report continues to publish annual updates on these five key trends, as well as compiling and creating further resources.[34]
Manifestos
IFLA has endorsed and collaborated on several manifestos that cover a wide range of issues related to libraries. These manifestos include:
- IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 1994 (1994)[35]
- IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto 1999 (1999)[36]
- Alexandria Manifesto on Libraries, the Information Society in Action (2005)[37]
- IFLA Manifesto on Transparency, Good Governance and Freedom from Corruption (2008)[38]
- IFLA/UNESCO Multicultural Library Manifesto (2009)[39]
- IFLA Library Statistics Manifesto (2010)[40]
- IFLA/UNESCO Manifesto for Digital Libraries (2010)[41]
- IFLA Manifesto for libraries serving persons with a print disability (2012)[42]
- Internet Manifesto 2014 (2014)[43]
- A Library Manifesto for Europe (2019)[44]
- IFLA School Library Manifesto (2021)—forthcoming[45]
Manifesto for Libraries Serving Persons with a Print Disability (LPD)
Endorsed by IFLA's Governing Board in April 2012, the first draft of the Manifesto for Libraries Serving Persons with a Print Disability was intended to support the Marrakesh VIP Treaty. After further drafts, the LPD Manifesto was passed in November 2013 at the 37th UNESCO General Conference in Paris.[46] The LPD Manifesto encourages libraries to provide more accessible library and information services for blind and visually impaired patrons. According to the IFLA, lack of access to information is the biggest barrier for persons with a print disability to fully and effectively participate in all aspects of society.[47]
The six statements of the LPD Manifesto are as follows:[47]
- IFLA recommends that all library and information providers, as part of their core services, put in place services, collections, equipment and facilities, which will assist individual users with a print disability to access and use resources that meet their particular needs for information.
- IFLA encourages library and information service providers to consult individuals with a disability, and groups representing them, in the planning, development and ongoing delivery of services.
- IFLA acknowledges that the best services are provided by professionals who are aware of the needs of, and service options for, people with a print disability. Therefore, IFLA encourages all library and information services to ensure that staff are adequately trained and available to work with users with a print disability, and supports career-long professional development and formal library and information studies programs, which will facilitate the strengthening of equitable library and information services to people with a print disability.
- IFLA supports efforts to improve access to resources by people with a print disability through service agreements, referrals and sharing of resources between library and information services; and between these and other organisations specialising in services targeted for people with a print disability. Therefore, IFLA encourages the establishment and development of an international network of libraries of accessible materials.
- IFLA supports efforts to ensure that copyright legislation enables equal access by people with a print disability to information from all libraries and information providers.
- In addition to meeting legislative requirements, IFLA encourages the observation of universal design principles, guidelines and standards to ensure that library and information services, collections, technologies, equipment and facilities meet the identified needs of users with a print disability.
Jay Jordan IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship Program
Sponsored by IFLA and OCLC, the Jay Jordan IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship Program "provides early career development and continuing education for library and information science professionals from countries with developing economies."[48] Each year, the four-week program provides up to five individuals with the opportunity to interact with important information practitioners in the field. Additionally, the Fellows deliver presentations that grapple with libraries' challenges and formulate development plans that benefit their personal career growth.[49]
IFLA/OCLC Fellows by Year
Year | Fellows |
---|---|
2019 | John Oluwaseye Adebayo, Chrisland University, Nigeria
Samar Jammoul, Safadi Public Library, Lebanon Davaasuren Myagmar, National Library of Mongolia Tracey-Ann Ricketts, National Library of Jamaica Ramiro Jose Rico Carranza, Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo, Bolivia |
2018 | Alehegn Adane Kinde, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
Arnold Mwanzu, International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology (icipe), Kenya Boris Đenadić, National Library of Serbia, Serbia Chantelle Richardson, National Library of Jamaica Chandra Pratama Setiawan, Petra Christian University, Indonesia |
2017 | Patience Ngizi-Hara, The Copperbelt University, Zambia
Eric Nelson Haumba, YMCA Comprehensive Institute, Uganda Sharisse Rae Lim, National Library of the Philippines Jerry Mathema, Masiyephambili College, Zimbabwe Nguyen Van Kep, Hanoi University, Vietnam |
2016 | Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari, Nigeria
Željko Dimitrijević, Serbia Penninah Musangi, Kenya Rhea Jade Nabusan, Philippines Shaharima Parvin, Bangladesh |
2015 | Stanislava Gardaševic, Serbia
Nomsa Mathabela, Swaziland Masimba Muziringa, Zimbabwe Martin Julius Perez, Philippines Sadaf Rafiq, Pakistan |
2014 | Olufunmilayo Fati, Nigeria
Franklin Flores Urrutia, El Salvador W. M. Tharanga Dilruk Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka Leonila Reyes, Philippines Sonam Wangdi, Bhutan |
2013 | Dwaymian Brissette, Jamaica
Caroline Nyaga-Kithinji, Kenya David Ofili, Nigeria Rozita Petrinska-Labudovikj, Republic of Macedonia Chona San Pedro, Philippines |
2012 | Efua Ayiah, Ghana
Gladys Mungai, Kenya Md. Shafiur Rahman, Bangladesh Tanzela Shaukat, Pakistan Ngozi Ukachi, Nigeria |
2011 | Khumo Dibeela, Botswana
Geanrose Lagumbay, Philippines Ngwira Fiskani, Malawi Milan Vasiljevic, Serbia Tian Xiaodi, China |
2010 | Sasekea Harris, Jamaica
Mahmoud Khalifa, Egypt Elchin Mammadov, Azerbaijan Catherine Muriuki, Kenya Sidra Shan, Pakistan Shao Yan, China |
2009 | John Kiyaga, Uganda
Ani Minasyan, Armenia Caleb Ouma, Kenya Saima Qutab, Pakistan Raymond Sikanyika, Zambia Vesna Vuksan, Serbia |
2008 | Hanan Erhif, Morocco
Atanu Garai, India Kamal Giri, Nepal Sarah Kaddu, Uganda Cyrill Walters, South Africa |
2007 | Kodjo Atiso, Ghana
Alicia Esguerra, Philippines Pauline Nicholas, Jamaica Elisangela Silva, Brazil Nevena Tomić, Serbia |
2006 | Maria Cherrie, Trinidad & Tobago
Janete Estevão, Brazil Festus Ngetich, Kenya Roman Purici, Moldova Salmubi, Indonesia |
2005 | Thomas Bello, Malawi
Xiaoqing Cai, China Edwar Delgado, Colombia Lela Nanuashvili, Georgia Rev. Gillian Wilson, Jamaica |
2004 | Nayana Wijayasundara, Sri Lanka
MacAnthony Cobblah, Ghana Musa Olaka, Rwanda Muhammad Rafiq, Pakistan |
2003 | Anjali Gulati, India
Ibrahim Ramjaun, Mauritius Vu Thi Nha, Vietnam Hyekyong Hwang, Korea Selenay Aytaç, Turkey |
2002 | Ferry Iranian, Indonesia
Sibongile Madolo, South Africa Purity Mwagha, Kenya J.K. Vijayakumar, India Dayang Zarina Abang Ismail, Malaysia |
2001 | Andy Igonor, South Africa
Tuba Akbayturk, Turkey Smita Chandra, India Rashidah Bolhassan, Malaysia |
President
The current president of IFLA is Barbara Lison.[50]
In yellow the presidents with a Wikipedia article, in gray without a Wikipedia article. In red female presidents and in green male presidents. Data from August 2019.[51]
Name | Tenure |
---|---|
Isak Collijn | 1927 to 1931 |
William Warner Bishop | 1931 to 1936 |
Marcel Godet | 1936 to 1947 |
Wilhelm Munthe | 1947 to 1951 |
Pierre Bourgeois | 1951 to 1958 |
Gustav Hofmann | 1958 to 1963 |
Sir Frank Francis | 1963 to 1969 |
Herman Liebaers | 1969 to 1974 |
Preben Kirkegaard | 1974 to 1979 |
Else Granheim | 1979 to 1985 |
Hans-Peter Geh | 1985 to 1991 |
Robert Wedgeworth | 1991 to 1997 |
Christine Deschamps | 1997 to 2003 |
Kay Raseroka | 2003 to 2005 |
Alex Byrne | 2005 to 2007 |
Claudia Lux | 2007 to 2009 |
Ellen Tise | 2009 to 2011 |
Ingrid Parent | 2011 to 2013 |
Sinikka Sipilä | 2013 to 2015 |
Donna Scheeder | 2015 to 2017 |
Gloria Pérez-Salmerón | 2017 to 2019 |
Christine Mackenzie | 2019 to 2021 |
Barbara Lison[53] | 2021 to 2023 |
Publications
- IFLA Journal is an academic journal in the fields of libraries, library and information science, and freedom of information published quarterly by SAGE Publication on behalf of IFLA
- IFLA Publications Series
- IFLA Series on Bibliographic Control
- IFLA Professional Reports
See also
- Public library ratings
- Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Association
- UNESCO Public Library Manifesto
References
- ^ "IFLA: News from the Governing Board Meeting". IFLA homepage. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "IFLA Journal". SAGE Journals. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA: The International Federation of Libraries". Goethe.de. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "History". Blue Shield International. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ a b c Henry, Carol. "International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions", World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services ed. Wedgeworth, Robert. 3rd ed. 1993. Pages 378–382. ISBN 0-8389-0609-5, ISBN 978-0-8389-0609-5.
- ^ "World Library and Information Congress".
- ^ "IFLA Global Vision". IFLA. 3 March 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Activities and Groups". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Activities and Groups". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Evidence for Global and Disaster Health (E4GDH) Special Interest Group". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Division of Library Types". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Division of Library Collections". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Division of Library Services". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Division of Support of the Profession". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Division of Regions". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Activities and Groups". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Rubin, Richard (2010). Foundations of Library and Information Science (3 ed.). New York: Neal-Schuman. p. 343. ISBN 978-1-55570-690-6.
- ^ "Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM)". International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
- ^ "Activities". IFLA. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ FAIFE website
- ^ "About FAIFE". International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
- ^ "Publications from FAIFE". International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
- ^ "FAIFE Mission". International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
- ^ IFEX website
- ^ "Action for Development through Libraries Programme".
- ^ "IFLA -- Building Strong Library Associations". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- The International Advocacy Programme (IAP)". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Libraries, Development and the United Nations 2030 Agenda". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA International Leaders Programme". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "About the Preservation and Conservation Strategic Programme". International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
- ^ "About the Preservation and Conservation Strategic Programme". IFLA. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Riding the Waves or Caught in the Tide? Insights from the IFLA Trend Report (PDF) (Report). The Hague, Netherlands: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. 19 August 2013. p. 16. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ John Gantz; David Reinsel (June 2011), "The Digital Universe Study: Extracting Value from Chaos" (PDF), International Data Corporation, Framingham, MA, retrieved 9 February 2016
- ^ a b "IFLA Trend Report". trends.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 1994". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto 1999". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Alexandria Manifesto on Libraries, the Information Society in Action". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA Manifesto on Transparency, Good Governance and Freedom from Corruption". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA/UNESCO Multicultural Library Manifesto". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA Library Statistics Manifesto". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA/UNESCO Manifesto for Digital Libraries". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA Manifesto for libraries serving persons with a print disability". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- Internet Manifesto 2014". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "A Library Manifesto for Europe". A Library Manifesto for Europe. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "IFLA -- IFLA School Library Manifesto (2021) open for comments". www.ifla.org. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Marlin, Mike (November–December 2014). "Promoting Access for Blind and Visually Impaired Patrons". American Libraries. 45 (11/12). American Library Association: 21–22. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ a b "IFLA Manifesto for libraries serving persons with a print disability". International Federation of Library Associations. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Jordan IFLA/OCLC Fellowship Program". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- ^ a b "The Jay Jordan IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship Program". OCLC. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "President 2021-2023". International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Ramírez-Ordóñez, David (3 March 2020). "Gender gap, Wikipedia and libraries (in Spanish: Brecha de género, Wikipedia y bibliotecas)". Nomono. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "IFLA Presidents". International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "IFLA President". IFLA. Retrieved 3 December 2022.